Control valve



Aug. 24, 1965 c. J. FRENZEL CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8. 1965 [/WPL FRE/VZEL Aug. 24, 1965 c. J. FRENZEL 3,202,133

CONTROL VALVE Filed July 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 672/?L QC FVQDNQiEZ El a 53 g aw; 34%275 United States Patent 3,2tl2,1t33 UDNTRQL VALVE Carl J. Frenzel, Chicago, ill, assignor to lril Corporation, Chicago, ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 8, 1963, Ser. No. 293,501 '7 Claims. ((Jl. 137-6374) This invention relates generally to valves, and more particularly to a new and improved control valve for fluid operated devices.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved control valve for a fluid operated device, which valve is adapted to be actuated for reversing the flow of fluid through the device.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a novel control valve for a reversible type fluid motor, which valve includes a sleeve having a plug member of unique construction rotatably mounted within the sleeve, whereby selective angular positioning of the plug in the sleeve reverses the flow of fluid through the motor for changing the direction of rotation of the latter.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel control valve for a fluid operated device, which valve includes improved means for varying the rate of fluid admitted to the device.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a novel control valve for a fluid motor, which valve includes a rotatably mounted cylindrical valve member having a variable depth groove in the outer cylindrical surface thereof communicating an inlet port with passageway means extending to the motor, whereby rotation of the valve member varies the rate of fluid admitted to the motor for controlling the speed of the latter.

Even another object of the present invention is the provision of a control valve which will fulfill the objectives set forth above and which is of simplified construction involving the use of only a relatively few parts thereby having the attendant advantages of trouble free operation and ease of manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification wherein like numerals refer to several parts throughout.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical central sectional view taken through one embodiment of the control valve of this invention showing the same operatively associated with a reversible type fluid operated motor;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing, from top to bottom, a portion of the plunger, the plug and the liner sleeve of the control valve of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the control valve of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the controlvalve, generally designated 1, will be seen to include a body 11 suitably secured to one end of a housing 12 (fragmeotarily shown) of a device, such as a powered hand tool, for example. The portion of housing 12 illustrated contains a reversible type air motor of known construction, which motor includes a fixedly mounted stator structure 14 having a rotor element 15 extending therethrough. The rotor element 15 has a plurality of radially extending vanes 16 secured thereto, and element 15 has opposite ends thereof rotatably supported in ball bearing structures 17 and 18. The forward end of rotor element 15 is provided with an extension 15a adapted to be secured with a shaft (not shown) of the powered hand tool.

The air motor, which of itself forms no part of the present invention, will not be described in greater detail 3,22,l83 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 herein. It will be understood that the motor is of the reversible type adapted to rotate in one direction when a fluid under pressure, such as air, is admitted to the motor vanes via opening 19 (MG. 3) and exhausted from the motor via opening 2h. The motor is adapted to rotate in the opposite direction by admitting air thereto through opening 29 and exhausting air therefrom through opening 19. It will be realized that the air motor just described is shown for purpose of illustration only and not for limiting the invention in any Way. The present invention concerns novel valve means for reversing the flow of air through openings 19 and 20 for changing the direction of rotation of the air motor. Further, the invention concerns valve means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through openings 19 and 26 for controlling the speed of the air motor.

Body 11 of control valve ill includes a circular recess 22 for receiving a hub portion 23 of the air motor, and the body includes a through bore 24 having an enlarged portion 24a at one end thereof. Body 11 also includes an inlet chamber in the form of a bore 26 extending at a right angle to bore 2 5. Bore 26 includes a conical portion 26a communicating with enlarged bore portion 2 5a at an inlet port 27. The longitudinal central axis of bore 26 intersects the longitudinal central axis of bore 24. Inlet chamber or bore 26 is adapted to receive a screen member 28, and bore 26 is threaded along the length thereof for threadingly receiving a fitting 29. The fitting holds screen member 28 in place, and the fitting is hollow and internally threaded for threadingly receiving one end of an appropriate conduit for admitting a fluid, such as air, into the inlet chamber. As best seen in FIG. 3, body 11 includes a pair of parallel passageways 34) and 31 communicating with bore 24- near the lower end thereof at openings 32 and 33. Passageways 30 and 31 are adapted for respective registration with openings 19 and 20 when housing 11 of the control valve is secured to housing 11 by suitable means, such as bolts or pins (not shown). Openings 32 and 33 are formed by providing body 11, as by drilling, with bores 32a and 33a.

A liner sleeve 35 is fixedly secured, :as by a force fit, for example, in the lower portion of bore 24 with the lower end of the sleeve being flush with the surface of body 1d around the lower end of bore 24. Sleeve 35 is provided with a pair of radially disposed openings 36 and 37 adapted for respective communication with passageways 35? and .311 when the sleeve is properly secured in place in bore 24. Sleeve 35 also includes .a pair of cutout areas in the form of notches 38 and 39 cut through the wall of the sleeve at the lower end thereof, notches 38 and 39 being in general 'axia'l alignment with openings 36 and 37, respectively.

A plug 3 2 is rotatably mounted within liner sleeve 3 which plug includes an axially extending, central, through aperture 43 and .an annular shoulder 44 at the upper end of the plug. Aperture 43 includes in serial relationship a conical portion 43a at the upper end thereof forming a valve seat .and an enlarged cylindrical portion 43b opening at the upper end of plug d2. Plug 42 is also provided with a radially disposed port 45 intermediate the length thereof, which port opens into aperture 43. Plug 42 has a pair of generally diametrically oppositely disposed recesses 47 and 4-8, which recesses extend axially of plug 42 .and terminate short of opposite ends of the latter. Finally, plug 42 is provided with an annular recess 49 closely adjacent the lower end thereof interrupted by a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed flattened portions 5%.

Plug 42 is adapted to he rotatably mounted within sleeve 35 with lower ends of recesses 47 and 4 3 :being abearn the lower end of the sleeve. With the plug axially positioned with respect to the liner as just described, an-

nular shoulder 44 defines with bore v24 and the upper end of the sleeve an annular space for receiving an O-ring 52. The lower end of plug 42 projects beyond the exterior surface of housing 11 around bore 24 for being received in a central opening 54 provided in an actuating plate Opening 54 is provided with diametrically oppositely disposed flat sides for complementary engagement with flat portions 56 on the plug 4 2 for non-rotatably mounting of plate 55 on the lower end of plug 42. In other words, rotation or swinging of plate 55 about the longitudinal central axis of the plug results in rotation or angular positioning of the latter in sleeve 35. Plate 55 is held in place on the lower end of plug 42 by a split ring 56 receivable in recess 49.

Plate 55 includes integral finger gripping tabs 58 and 59. Plate 55 also has an arcuate recess 61 terminating at opposite ends thereof at shoulders 62 and 63, which shoulders are adapted for selective abutting engagement with a pin 64 suitably mounted in a bore 65 in body member 11. Pin 64 cooperates with shoulders 62 and 63 for acting as a stop means limiting rotation of plate 55. A ball 67, partially received in a bore 68 in body 11 and constantly urged therefrom by a spring 69, is adapted for rolling or sliding engagement along an arcuate recess 70 provided in the surface of plate 55 adjacent the lower portion of body 11. Ball 67 acts .as a restraining means making inadvertent movement of plate 55 unlikely.

A cylindrical valve member 75 is rotatably mounted in enlarged portion 24a of bore 24. Valve member 75 includes an annular recess 76 having a suitable sealing ring 77 seated therein for forming a seal between the exterior of valve member 75 and bore 24a above inlet port 27. The cylindrical valve element includes a central cavity 78 opening at the lower end of the member, and valve member 75 includes an integral lug portion 79 adapting the cylindrical valve element to be gripped by a persons fingers for rotation of the valve member within bore 24a. The cylindrical valve member is held in place in bore 24a by a split ring member 80 (FIG, adapted to be received in an annular groove 81 formed in body '11 adjacent the upper end of the bore portion 24a.

As best seen in FIG. 6, valve member 75 includes a groove 83 in the outer surface thereof, which groove varies uniformly in depth along the length thereof. Valve member 75 also includes a radially extending passageway 84 communicating cavity '78 with the end of groove 83 having the greatest depth. *It will be understood that groove 83 has its center line or center element, i.e., the line extending along the length of groove 83 equidistant from opposite sides thereof, in a plane transverse to the longitudinal central axis of bore .24, which plane also contains the longitudinal central axis of bore 26. In other words, passageway 84 is placed in communication with inlet port 27 by means of groove 83.

As groove 83 varies in cross-sectional area along the length thereof, it will be apparent that rotation of cylindrical valve element 75 varies or regulates the rate of fluid admitted to passageway 84 from inlet port 27. Maximum flow will be obtained when the end of groove 83 having the greatest depth is in registry with the inlet port, and the slowest rate of fluid passing between the inlet port and passageway 84 will be realized when valve member 75 is rotated to a position where the end of groove 83 having the shallowest depth is positioned at the inlet port. As the depth or cross-sectional area of groove 83 varies "uniformly along the length thereof, the rate of fluid being admitted to passageway 84 may be uniformly varied .by rota-tion of element 75. Lug portion 79, which projects beyond the upper surface of housing 11 of valve member Ill, permits cylindrical valve element 75 to be adjusted by hand to any desired position for controlling the speed of operation of the motor or device with which valve is associated.

A valve plunger 85 having a reduceddm-diameter portion 85a is reciprocal within aperture 43 of plug 42.

Conical portion 43a forms a valve seat for receiving an O-ring 86, which O-ring encircles plunger below an annular fiange portion 85b formed on the plunger. Plunger 85 is constantly urged downwardly, i.e., withoring 86 in engagement with valve seat 43a, by a coil spring 88 housed in cavity 78. The lower end of spring 3-8 engages the upper end of the plunger above annular flange 85b and the upper end of spring 88 engages the upper surface of cavity 73 in cylindrical valve element 75.

Plunger 85 is adapted to be moved upwardly for communicating cavity '73 with aperture 43, i.e., plunger 85 15 adapted to be moved upwardly to a position where ring 36 is unse-ated from valve seat portion 4 3a, by a hand lever or trigger which engages the lower or exterior end of plunger 85. Lever 96 includes integral, parallel, spaced apart ears $1 and 92 which ears include co-axial apertures 93 for receiving a pin 94 supported in a bore 95 in body 11. iLever also has an integral tongue portion 96 adapted for abutting engagement'with the rear exterior wall of housing 1'1 for limiting outward swinging movement of lever 90. It will be apparent that upward swinging movement of lever 96 as seen in FIG. 1 (which may be brought about by grasping the valve body and squeezing lever 90 toward body 1 1) will result in upward movement of the plunger thereby unseating O-ring 86 from valve seat 43a. Further, it will be apparent that upon release of lever 96 spring 88 will return plunger 85 to its seated position thereby moving lever 96 downwardly or away from the surface of the body until tongue portion 96 abuts the rear surface of the former.

The operation of the control valve of this invention is as follows: e

As mentioned above, plug member 42 is adapted to e angularly positioned within liner sleeve 35 by means of plate 55. For purposes of illustration, let it be assumed that plate 55 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2, Le, with shoulder 63 abutting pin 64. With plate 55 in the position just described plug 42 is angularly positioned with respect to sleeve 35 so that port 45 is in registry with opening 36 in the sleeve. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. Assuming that a line carrying compressed air is attached to fitting 29, actuation of lever 90 results in lifting of plunger 65 thereby unseating ring 86 from valve seat 43a. This action places inlet chamber 26 in communication with aperture 43 by means of inlet port 27, groove 83, passageway 84 and cavity 78. As mentioned above, the rate of fluid being admitted to passageway 84 may be varied by rotation of cylindrical valve member 75.

Incoming fluid admitted to aperture 43 passes outwardly through port 45, through opening 36 and then into passageway 30. Fluid then flows into the air motor through opening 19 therein for rotation of the motor in one direction, for example. Fluid returning from the motor returns via passageway 20 which communicates with passageway 31 in body 11. Returning fluid enters opening 37 where it will then be admitted to recess 43. As noted in FIG. 3, when port 45 in plug 42 is in communication with opening 36 in sleeve 35, recess 48 communicates with opening 37. Return air entering recess 48 passes downwardly through the space defined by the interior of sleeve 35 and recess 48. The downwardly traveling air is exhausted to atmosphere through notch 39 which is provided at the lower end of the liner sleeve aheam of the lower end of recess 48. The escaping air to atmosphere passes between the exterior of body 11 and plate 55.

The air motor is reversed in its direction of rotation by merely swinging or rotating plate 55 until shoulder 62 comes into abutting engagement with pin 64. With the plate in this position, port 45 in plug 42 registerswith opening 37 in liner sleeve 35, and arcuate recess 4-7 in the plug communicates with opening 36 in the liner sleeve. It will now be apparent that air will flow into the motor through opening 20 and be renuined thfir fwm through opening 19.

from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

As noted in FIG. 2, indicia d8 in the form of letters F and R may be provided on the surface of housing 11 to indicate proper positioning of plate 55 to bring While the invention has been shown in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not to be so limited, but on the other hand it is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing In this respect it will be realized that although control valve is illustrated as associated with an air motor, the control valve of this invention has equal utility in any enber opening into said bore and a pair of passageways 1 opening into said bore at points therealong longitudinally spaced from the opening of said chamber into said bore, a liner sleeve fixedly mounted in said bore with one end thereof being adjacentsaid one end of the bore, which sleeve has a pair of openings in respective communication with saidpairof passageways, said sleeve being provided with notch means at said one end thereof, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said sleeve, which plug includes an axially extendingthrough aperture adapted for communication with said inlet chamber, said plug having a radially extending port opening into said aperture and adapted for selective registration with respective openings in said sleeve upon rotation of said plug, said plug including a pair of generally diametrically oppositely disposed recesses formed in the outer surface thereof whereby when said port is in registry with one of said openings one of said recesses is in'comrnunication with the other of said openings and when said port is in registry with said other opening the other of said recesses is in communication with said one opening, said recesses being configured for defining with said sleeve a pair of axially extending spaces closed at the inner ends thereof, said recesses being adapted to be selectively placed in communication with said notch means upon rotation of said plug for being opened to atmosphere, and a plunger reciprocal in said aperture for selectively communicating the latter with said inlet chamber.

2. A control valve for reversing fluid flow comprising, a valve body having a bore opening at one end thereof exteriorly of said body, said body having an inlet chamber opening into said bore and a pair of passageways opening into said bore at points therealong longitudinally spaced from the opening of said chamber into said bore, a liner sleeve fixedly mounted in said bore with one end thereof being adjacent said one end of the bore, which sleeve has a pair of openings in respective communication with said pair of passageways and a pair of notches in ture and adapted for selective registration with respective openings in said sleeve upon rotation of said plug, said plug including a pair of generally diametrically oppositely disposed recesses formed in the outer surface thereof for defining with said sleeve a pair of axially extending spaces closed at the inner ends thereof and terminating at opposite ends thereof at points abeam said one end of the sleeve, whereby when saidport is in registry with one of said openings one of said recesses is in simultaneous communication with the other of said openings and one of said notches, and when said port is in registry with said other opening the other of said recesses is in simultaneous communication with said one opening and the other of said notches, and valve means in said aperture for selectively communicating the latter with said inlet chamber.

3. A control valve for reversing and regulating fluid flow comprising, a valve body including means defining a bore opening at one end thereof exteriorly of said body, said body having an inlet port opening radially into said bore and a pair of passageways opening radially into said bore, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said bore with the inner end of the plug terminating short of the inner end of said bore, which plug includes an axially extending aperture and a radially extending port opening into said aperture and adapted for selective registration with respective passageways upon rotation of said plug,

said plug including a pair of generally diametrically oppositely disposed recesses formed in the outer surface thereof whereby when the port in said plug is in registry with one of said passageways one of said recesses is in communication with the other of said passageways and when the port in said plug is in registry with said other passageway the other of said recesses is in communication with said one passageway, said recesses being configured for defining with saidmeans a pair of axially extending spaces closed at the inner ends thereof and being adapted to be opened to atmosphere at the outer ends thereof,

a cylindrical valve member co-axial with said plug and said one end thereof, said notches being in general axial rotatably mounted in said bore adjacent the inner end of the latter, which member has a central cavity adapted for communication with said aperture and a groove formed. in the outer cylindrical surface thereof, which groove has a depth varying uniformly along its length and which groove has an element extending along its length lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal central axis of said member, said plane containing the longitudinal central axis of said inlet port, said member including a radially disposed passageway communicating said cavity with said groove adjacent the end of the latter having the greatest depth, whereby the rate of flow of a fluid being admitted to said last mentioned passageway may be varied by rotation of said member, and means associated with said plug for selectively communicating said aperture with said cavity.

4. A control valve for reversing and regulating fluid flow comprising, a valve body having a bore opening at one end thereof exteriorly of said body, said body having an inlet port opening radially into said bore and a pair of passageways opening into said bore at points therealong longitudinally spaced from said inlet port, a liner sleeve fixedly mounted in said bore along a portion of the length of the latter, which sleeve has a pair of radially disposed openings in respective communication with said pair of passageways, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said sleeve with the inner end of the plug terminating short of the inner end of said bore, which plug includes an axially extending through aperture, said plug having a radially extending port opening into said aperture and adapted for selective registration with respective openings'in said sleeve upon rotation of said plug, said plug including a pair of generally diametrically oppositely disposed recesses formed in the outer surface thereof whereby when the port in said plug is in registry with one of said openings one of said recesses is in communication with the other of said openings and when the port in said plug is in registry with said other opening the other of said recesses is in communication with said one'opening, said recesses being configured for defining with said liner a pair of axially extending spaces closed at the inner ends thereof and being adapted to be opened to atmosphere at the outer said plug and rotatably mounted in said bore adjacent the inner end of the latter, which member has a central cavity adapted for communication with said aperture and which member has a groove formed in the outer cylindrical surface thereof, which groove has a depth varying uniformly along its length and which groove has an element extending along its length lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal central axis of said memher, said plane containing the longitudinal central axis of said inlet port, said member including a radially disposed passageway communicating said cavity with said groove adjacent the end of the latter having the greatest depth, whereby the rate of flow of fluid being admitted to said last mentioned passageway may be varied by rotation of said member, and means associated with said plug for selectively communicating said aperture with said cavity.

The control valve according to claim 4 wherein the means associated with said plug comprises a plunger reciprocal in said aperture, said plunger having one end thereof engageable with a hand operable lever for actuation of the former.

6. The control valve according to claim 4 wherein the end of said plug opposite said one end thereof projects slightly beyond the exterior surface of said body around said bore and is provided with grippable means for rotation of the plug.

7. A control valve for reversing fluid flow comprising, a valve body including means defining a bore and at least a pair of passageways opening into the bore generally radially thereof, a liner sleeve mounted in said bore, which sleeve includes a pair of openings in respective registration with said passageways and which sleeve further includes a pair of cut-out areas spaced from respec- 3 tive openings longitudinally of the sleeve, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said sleeve, which plug has an axially extending central aperture opening at one end of the plug at least, said plug including a generally radially extending port communicating with said aperture and adapted to register with either of said openings upon rotation of said plug in said liner, said plug including a pair of separate recesses formed in the outer surface thereof, which recesses extend axially of the plug with their ends terminating short of respective opposite ends of the plug, each recess being of such length axially of the plug that it is adapted for simultaneous communication withone of said openings and the associated cut-out area in said liner, said recesses being arranged relative to said port so when the latter registers with one of said openings one of said recesses communicates only with the other of said openings and its associated cut-out area and when the port registers with said other opening the other recess communicates only with said one opening and its associated cut-out area, said body including means defining a fluid inlet chamber communicating with said aperture, and said valve body being arranged for permitting fluid flow from said cut-out areasJ References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,214,267 1/17 Block 137625.24 XR 1,677,499 7/28 Smith 251-209 XR 2,127,679 8/38 Dudley 137-62523 2,566,885 9/51 Hartley 2S1297 XR 2,590,888 4/52 Randol 137-62543 XR 2,868,155 1/59 Phillips 251-409 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 321,709 10/34 Italy.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. 

4. A CONTROL VALVE FOR REVERSING AND REGULATING FLUID FLOW COMPRISING, A VALVE BODY HAVING A BORE OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF EXTERIORLY OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING AN INLET PORT OPENING RADIALLY INTO SAID BORE AND A PAIR OF PASSAGEWAYS OPENING INTO SAID BORE AT POINTS THEREALONG LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM SAID INLET PORT, A LINER SLEEVE FIXEDLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE ALONG A PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE LATTER, WHICH SLEEVE HAS A PAIR OF RADIALLY DISPOSED OPENINGS IN RESPECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PAIR OF PASSAGEWAYS, A CYLINDRICAL PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE WITH THE INNER END OF THE PLUG TERMINATING SHORT OF THE INNER END OF SAID BORE, WHICH PLUG INCLUDES AN AXIALLY EXTENDING THROUGH APERTURE, SAID PLUG HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING PORT OPENING INTO SAID APERTURE AND ADAPTED FOR SELECTIVE REGISTRATION WITH RESPECTIVE OPENINGS IN SAID SLEEVE UPON ROTATION OF SAID PLUG, SAID PLUG INCLUDING A PAIR OF GENERALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITELY DISPOSED RECESSES FORMED IN THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF WHEREBY WHEN THE PORT IN SAID PLUG IS IN REGISTRY WITH ONE OF SAID OPENINGS ONE OF SAID RECESSES IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH T HE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS AND WHEN THE PORT IN SAID PLUG IS IN REGISTRY WITH SAID OTHER OPENING THE OTHER OF SAID RECESSES IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID ONE OPENING, SAID RECESSES BEING CONFIGURED FOR DEFINING WITH SAID LINER A PAIR OF AXIALLY EXTENDING SPACES CLOSED AT THE INNER ENDS THEREOF AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE OPENED TO ATMOSPHERE AT THE OUTER ENDS THEREOF, A CYLINDRICAL VALVE MEMBER CO-AXIAL WITH SAID PLUG AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE ADJACENT THE INNER END OF THE LATTER, WHICH MEMBER HAS A CENTRAL 